User Reviews

Medias Res tells the story of Dave Meeks, a down on his luck salesman (some of the best early scenes involve him selling junk from the trunk of his car, and Dave's roommate/literal partner in crime Joe. What starts as some small hustles to make ends meet ends in betrayal and blood as Dave and Joe find themselves in the middle (in medias res, look at that!) of a drug-related kidnapping. As they peel back layer and layer of this story, they spiral closer to danger and death!

The story rests on the performances of its leads - Mike Delaney (also co-writer), Joseph Mason, and Sarah Coykendall. Delaney gives an especially earnest performance as the sappy, hapless Meeks. Mason is street tough when he needs to be, but also shows considerable vulnerability. And Coykendall excels as the siren who leads Meeks further and further into the criminal underworld.

Medias Res is funny, smart, intriguing, and a compelling piece of indie cinema. The production values are top notch and there are some really creative directorial choices (a grainy, washed out freeze frame was a particular favorite). Definitely give this movie a shot!

Media Res takes you on a journey with a couple of unlikely friends when they end up in the wrong place at the wrong time while just trying to survive their daily lives. This is a low budget film that manages to feel like it isn't low budget and that's not something that's easy to accomplish. The characters are interesting and the story is interwoven with subtle comedic elements, which helps lift some of the tension created by what the characters in the film are experiencing. And all of this is done expertly. The film takes a much darker turn that what I was expecting in the last act, but that's what makes this thriller so intriguing. Medias Res features a fresh storyline that you haven't seen before and it is executed skillfully to make this a true modern noir. I can't wait to see what these filmmakers do next.

Its about living, friendship, struggle, and escapism. written with wit and charm, we're treated to an entertaining story that never settles into a single mood but never overwhelms. its a journey with an unexpected pairing of friends whose great chemistry vibes through the screen. recommended.

This would make (and probably did) a pretty good community college project film. If I'm rating it on those terms, it gets an 'A'. It's going to get rated on the same scale as I would rate a Hollywood blockbuster or a 1940s film noir.

The plot was plodding, the character development was non-existent, 80% of the way through the movie new characters are introduced, the acting was either bad or worse depending on who was doing the acting, the screenplay was dull, in other words I have very few good things to say about this movie and I wonder what's up with the other 18 reviewers who took the time to do this before me.

The only really good thing about this movie was it's camera work. Other than some questionable shots from inside vehicles, I thought most of the shots were well done given the material the shooter had to work with. It was a little dark at times, but I'm pretty sure that was the tone of the film and probably should have been done that way.

Curious, I sat down to watch and see what this Indie movie was all about. It was captivating, without being too dark. The characters were interesting with a bit of an enigmatic draw. The cinematography gave the film a glow that made you feel captivated by the lightning, colors, and sights. It satisfied my curiosity about a true Indie movie. It was a really enjoyable experience to watch how this thriller unfolded.

Full of directorial spunk and earnest performances, this film scratches at some itches we don't see too often these days.

The story of Dave is at once triumphant and pitiful; he's an everyman whom we all can relate to in some way. Maybe we haven't lived out of our cars, or maybe we haven't been forced into doing weird drugs, but the sincerity Dave possesses during every stage of trying to get his life on the right track makes him an incredibly likable character. Quite simply, we want him to succeed (this is an element very important to me when judging a film. To be concise, the strength of a character is based on his/her complexity, and this film absolutely delivers in this category.).

Additionally, the vivid color palette is a welcome choice, harking back to oversaturated palettes of the late 1990s, and giving the film a refreshingly sleek look amidst a superabundance of modern filmmaking which only utilizes browns, oranges, and blues. Every frame of this film is set up to be interesting -- one particular standout sequence has such intensity and momentum that I actually said "wow" out loud. All of this is a direct result of filmmakers who have a clear vision and execute it well.

Quite honestly, the story could use a bit more focus at times, but that does not detract from the overall success of this film -- this is a group of artists who obviously care about their craft, and frankly, I am excited to see what their future projects have in store.

As someone who has made a few short films myself, I was surprised to learn how small the budget for this film was - because it does not show. Sure, there are a few budgetary workarounds (i.e., cutting away at a gunshot instead of paying for expensive squib effects) and a few sound issues that a higher budget might have helped resolve, but overall, this looks like more than a $10,000 film. The acting is pretty solid throughout and the story has fun twists and turns to keep you engaged. It would be interesting to see what this production team could do with a little more money and a little more time.

Noir can be a tricky genre to get "right." Too much style and you lose out on all the wonderful storytelling the genre can give, and too much verbosity can drain the life out of it. Media Res walks this balance excellently. The movie looks awesome for its budget, and the actors bring it in classic noir fashion. Also refreshing? This isn't another alcoholic hard boiled private eye noir story, It's a grounded tale about a flawed man in way over his head who's just trying to do the right thing, although maybe not in the right way. It's a story that feels very current and real, with just enough flavor and theatricality to push it squarely in the film noir pantheon. it's funny, sharp, honest and, like any good story, it ends in tears. Seek out and support independent cinema. Artists like the ones who made Media Res deserve to keep telling their stories.

So a few days ago I was given the privilege of getting a sneak peek at Medias Res a tight, though sadly still without distribution, rough around the edges indie thriller co-written, produced and starring one of my favourite voices in the world of film podcasting Mike Delaney.

"Dave and Joe, just evicted from their Oakland apartment, turn to stealing cars and dealing Fluoride to make their financial ends meet. One night they find Summer Hayes, star of a popular 1990's teen soap, in the trunk of a stolen automobile. Shoot-outs, car chases, and overdoses ensue. In the Fluoride heightened world of Medias Res, nothing is what it at first appears to be." (synopsis courtesy of IMDB)

Shot on a real shoestring budget with a minimal crew, this just goes to show what you can do with a great script and a director; Edwin Fernando Gonzalez, also serving as cinematographer AND editor, who know how to really capture a real sense of location, in this case Oakland California, seriously the nighttime photography in this film is outstanding... Yes it is a little rough around the edges, hits one or two slightly too familiar noir-esque story beats and a couple of the performances are, shall we say, amateur BUT there is real talent on display here and it's films like this that need to be championed and hopefully picked up and given a wider release!

I was pleasantly surprised by how moving and how funny this movie was. What could have been a by-the-numbers low-budget crime movie is instead an unpredictable tale about vulnerability in hopeless situations. The atmosphere and mood are gorgeous, but they work with the story rather than being an awkward filter. It's rare that such a small film can make everything work, but this story and the characters have stayed with me, and this absolutely deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.

As a film fanatic who came to cinematic maturity in the 1990s, I was completely onboard this film as an energetic throwback to the audacious introductions of filmmakers to keep an eye on. It has the fun criminal vibe of LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, the frenetic action of EL MARIACHI, and the vernacular cadence and gleeful vulgarity of BLOOD, GUTS, BULLETS, AND OCTANE. Though you will recognize some of the story elements, it doesn't feel like a pastiche or homage. This is exactly the kind of movie that wouodnfind a life in the festival circuit and gain a cult following on Video or DVD a la SIX-STRING SAMURAI. It's an entertaining movie made all the more impressive given the production value they achieved on their budget. This movie is worth your time for sure, and if you check it out, you'll also be supporting the kind of talented artist that the system has been slowly shutting out. REALLY good stuff.

A refreshing take on the good guys trying to just make it in a life of crime-type of film, full of quite an interesting tone and performances that really stand out. Dying to see what the director does next and I'd highly recommend this one.

-Jerry Smith

I knew the stars of Medias Res from the Splathouse podcast, so when I had a chance to see it I jumped on it. What I found was a true indie film, made with passion and talent. The filmmakers stretch the meager budget to craft a compelling neo-noir anchored by a sympathetic performance from co-writer/producer Mike Delaney.

What impressed me more than the performances though was the way director Edwin Fernando Gonzalez, acting as his own cinematographer, creates a fully realized yet hypnotically unreal world. The colors alone make this movie worth seeing. Gonzalez clearly understands color in the way that Mann, Hooper and Argento do. Movies with budgets 100 times bigger than this look worse.

Make no mistake, Medias Res is a true indie, and as such is a bit rough around the edges. But if you know that going in, and appreciate true indie cinema, this film will not disappoint you. Support filmmakers like Delaney and Gonzalez and see this as soon as you have a chance.

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can change the rest of your life. This film takes you on this type of dark journey. A crime-drama/thriller on the surface and a subtle comedy beneath the surface, this nicely paced film continues to surprise all the way until it's unpredictable conclusion. The two leads have terrific chemistry and their entertaining performances kept me glued till the very end. Well done to every one involved.

Medias Res is the kind of breezy, 90s/2000s indie crime caper that filmmakers just do not make nowadays. The world of Medias Res is that of a world with car thieves, drugs, television stars and hapless people trying to make their way. Star Mike Delaney cuts a sympathetic cloth as the put upon Dave and Sarah Coykendall is magnanimous as Summer. The film hypnotizes and adjusts you to its rhythm rather than vice versa. Highly recommended.

A compelling story with refreshingly earnest performances by Delaney, Mason and Coykendall. The imagery is moody and well-framed, and both Delaney and Mason especially are likeable in their almost Odd Couple-esque pairing. Definitely one I went back to rewatch and take in again right away.

This stylized story delivers an intriguing tale of trying to make good while doing bad things. This jaunt into the underbelly of criminal misgivings embraces its low budget nature as the sense of style that catches more than your eye, it captures your attention and your heart, as you hope for things to get better for these characters but also hope for things to never get this bad for yourself. The talents and budget of all involved is stretched to great lengths but never bursts at the seams. It fits comfortablely within the confines of genre cinema while giving a new flash of style that actually carries its own substance.

I'm a sucker for a hapless, in-above-his-head protagonist, and there is no hap to be found in Dave, played with sad-eyed humor by Mike Delaney. He and the gorgeous and mysterious Sarah Coykendall form the backbone of this slightly surreal nightmare of a crime tale, balanced against the more overtly unhealthy relationship between Dave and Joe that drives the story forward.

The actors all come from the same theater group (Impact Theater, in Oakland), so it's no surprise that they play well together and keep what might otherwise come off as a fragmented dreamscape of a neo-noir in a very human, emotionally compelling space.

The film makes the most of its digital filmmaking techniques to create just that feel, rather than attempting a low-budget imitation of traditional noir tropes. The result is a unique and exciting wallow in the gutters of crime and direct consumer sales, with a satirical edge and a bittersweet heart.

No budget? No problem!

I was thoroughly entertained by this movie and really loved the humor throughout. Huge kudos to the cast and crew for working on a project with such a low budget. The passion really shows.